I'm all fired up because my fave footie team won a Cup at the weekend
Man United beat Wigan 4 to nil!! But it's the smallest trophy of the domestic season and the only thing they are likely to win this year...so...let's get psyched for the World Cup!!
I saw the US team beat Guatemala by the same score 2 weeks ago and they look good in attack but a little shakey in defence, the opposite to how they were in the last World Cup. They play Poland this week in their continued preparation.
Vinicius Cantuaria when he was in last week said he liked the England side as much as his own Brazil, who are the faves, but I'd rather bet on the US team going all the way!!

I took a cab to work today and had the most amazing conversation with the driver, Israel.. he was such a big fan of MN Public Radio, he put the best spin on my day that was starting off like crap as my car is a piece of junk.

I forgot to mention, about Lindsay, below: She also helps with "My Three Songs" and does a fine fill-in airshift as well.

I just wanna take a couple of spaces here and thank the Gods Of Library Organization that they have consented to deliver a savior unto us: Lindsay Kimball, who has been one of our library interns since the station started, has come onboard full-time for a limited time to help us get our CD library in order.

You simply can't understand how happy this makes many of us. After 14 months, we are still dealing with piles of CDs scattered around the 4th floor here, in various states of organization and disorganization. Lindsay is here to lead us out of the woods. You know what this means for you, dear listener? More music. Music we didn't even know we had (or forgot we had) making it onto the air.

Thank you, heavenly hosts of alphebetization and cataloging.

I thought I had lost the checkbook last night, so in a panic I rushed back to Cub Foods to see if it fell out of my jacket pocket while getting into the car. That put me in the awkward position of searching in the dark for the place I had parked 90 minutes earlier – daunting when you consider I have a hard time finding my parking spot while the car is still in it. Amazingly, I found the right place and searched the area to no avail, though it made me a little nervous. What would you do if you came out to your car and found me looking underneath it with a flashlight? Suspicious activity, to say the least.
It turns out the checkbook was at home, misplaced. And I wasn’t discovered skulking around other people’s cars, carted off to police HQ and questioned by Homeland Security. Lucky for me on all counts. It’s Monday and I’m happy to be free, with my checkbook (and identity) intact.

So I decided to head to The Turf Club last night for The Vets, Hockey Night and Malachi Constant. I kind of hid downstairs for The Vets, but came back up for Hockey Night and ended up leaving about two songs into Malachi Constant. It was so packed with people. And- I can't help but wonder if the sound system could be any worse in the Turf Club? Good God. Unless you're standing right in front, it's the most horrible sonic experience ever. But I wouldn't blame the sound system for how The Vets sounded. Sorry guys. Hockey Night was, in my opinion, the best sounding of the night. Malachi Constant didn't even go on until about 1:15am and by then I was feeling impatient and my beer was wearing off. I like their new album, but they didn't sound as well live. I had a good time, but slightly disappointed I didn't go to Halloween, Alaska. Just slightly.

My original plan was to head to Minneapolis for Halloween, Alaska. But- there's nothing wrong with changing up my plans! That's the joy of being unmarried and childless. Being spontanious! Of course the downside is utter loneliness and despair. ha! Just kidding. I'm not ready to turn square yet.

Split Enz is regrouping for a limited Australian tour in July. Their tickets went on sale on Wednesday and sold out in two hours. I'm tellin' ya, they should plan a US reunion tour as well ... I bet they'd sell a few tickets here too. I would love to see them! Especially if they wore those Colonel Sanders string-ties and pink jackets.

I'll be at The Triple Rock Social Club tonight in Minneapolis for Halloween, Alaska. See you there! That's if I make it past Friday happy hour. Just kidding... I hope.

Happy Friday.

Sorry folks I have to be at the Winemakers Dinner this friday night, a fundraiser for MPR, so I will be having a lovely dinner and a sip or two of wine with rivetting conversation with some of our supporters... seeyathere!?
Danny will be covering for me but I picked out a killer DJ set for him. An old fave of mine, Robbie is releasing "Juicy Miami" and I took a section from it. HOOJ house music, hope you like it, here's a sneak peak at the list...sing along now!

Josh the Funky One "universal sound"
DJ Rooster & Sammy Peralta "shake it"
Matteo Esse & Sant feat Corrina Joseph "funk"
The Joker "bring it back (your soul)"
Robbie Rivera "catwalk"
Outwork feat Mr.Gee "elektro"
Mixin Marc & Alex Peace "the frequency"
Louie Padilla "manik"

Anybody know if Matt Pond PA managed to recover any of their stolen instruments?

Also, the discussion about "Myths and Legends" below is generating some interesting answers, so I would encourage you to chip in if you have any others.

Blogging reminds me of how I used to keep a diary. I had this totally sweet Lisa Simpson diary. Unfortunately for me, my nosy mother read it and made me throw it away because of how many curse words were in it. ha! When she demanded where I learned all those bad words I should have reminded her that my father was a construction worker.

There's a new song from the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs I really like. It's called "Gold Lion."

So, lately I can't get enough Hole into my musical diet. I loved Hole back in the day and then I hated Hole and now it's like I'm having a Hole revival. I used to have the CD Live Through This, but I can't find it anywhere. I read somewhere that Kurt Cobain wrote a lot of the lyrics for that album. He must've cause it's better than the other Hole albums. I think I would like Courtney Love more if she didn't fight with the other members of Nirvana so much. Just let them have rights to the music! Just because you were the wife of Kurt Cobain doesn't mean you were part of the band! I better stop before I let you all what I really think of Yoko Ono.

Today's "My Three Songs," from Richard Baum of St. Paul, concerned myths and "urban legends" in music. The scream during "Love Rollercoaster," the whole "Paul is dead" thing, bluesman Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil. I was trying to think of some others, and the only one I came up with concerned an emergency-room visit by Rod Stewart (alternate version to that one: Michael Jackson). *Ahem*. Anybody think of any others? Please, keep the discussion rated G.

We had a nice talk with our old friend Bill Staines on the Morning Show today. He is a self-taught guitarist, a fine songwriter and a truly durable character with over 35 years on the road playing around 200 dates annually. His songs are favorites with other folk singers too. Nanci Griffith is a Bill Staines fan of long standing. It’s a great thing when a person figures out early in life what it is they love to do, and then has the talent and opportunity to continue with it for decades.

I was in band. I know. I just felt like I needed to get that off my chest.

I feel as though I was a cool person in band. I played the drums. That's kind of cool, though. OK, I don't know who I'm trying to convince... you or me.

I used to get band people into trouble with their parents. I was a bad influence. hehehe.

New release Tuesday highlights...
Destroyer "Rubies"
Dan Bejar has grown famous by working with The New Pornographers.
This is his 'other project' now on it's 7th album. Some bitter tunes about fame and wonderfully full melodic pop parts.

The M's "Future Women"
They will be in town at the 400 bar with Archer Prewitt on Thursday.
Fuzzed out rock for the nowherenow gen-eeeeeeer-ation.
plus...
Elbow "Leaders of the Free World"
and Billy Bragg re-issues galore!!

Was honored to have not one but two talented and humble artists in
the studio with me tonight! Check them out on their formidable websites;
Vinicius Cantuaria was at The Dakota tonight and has a new cd out called 'Silva' www.vinicius.com
And Scanner is in town for the Spark festival at the U. He said that he has always wanted to do a radio show...when he grows up. When he's done with eveything else I would have him on any time, he was awesome;
www.scannerdot.com

... from blogging, that is. The membership drive + various projects had me a bit distracted for a few days. SO ... let me beging by saying THANK YOU for supporting during the membership campaign.

I love you guys.

Anybody remember The Judybats? Another band swallowed up in the tide of grunge at the beginning of the 90s. Used to love them.

I had 10 quality minutes of sleep last night.. should be a helluva show today

It was a fantastic and intense conclusion to the membership drive last Friday.
I re-lived the whole ten-day experience in ten short hours yesterday while painting the kitchen. Things were relaxed and rather aimless at first, but once we got some color on the walls, momentum began to build. My careful brush work around the window frame gave way to frenzied lunging with the roller as the urge to “see what it looks like finished” grew as quickly as the afternoon light faded away. I might have been a little sloppy in the last half hour, but so what? It’s natural to get carried away when you know you’re making something beautiful.
Thanks to everyone for a thrilling drive – The Current is glorious because you got involved.

If I would ever win the lottery... I would scream for at least a minute. Remember in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off when Cameron sees the mileage on his dad's car, and his screams were heard throughout the city of Chicago. That would be me. Except I wouldn't be in Chicago and the scream would be much girlier.

I don't even want to hear anyone tell me, "having millions wouldn't make you any happier." Umm, whatever dude. Of course I probably wouldn't have much left after I gave all my family and "real" friends their fair share. I can't wait to see how many socialite fake friends I would have after being new money.

I told Thorn on Friday that I have too many of my own teeth to win though. ha!

Doesn't it feel warm today? It looks warm outside. It's always tricky when you look outside and there's not a cloud in the sky. But-then you go out and freeze your buns.

If you need to warm up...Mallman at The Turf Club tonight in St. Paul.

Happy Saturday.

-Jill

Our very own DJ Danny was the guest this week, wickedly mixing;
ali akbar khan, black uhuru, jackie mittoo, art blakey, sitar beats, steel funk and beck.
He spins around town all the time in various guises. On Monday Feb 20th he'll be at the Kitty Kat Club with Bill Mike.

Thanks to EVERYONE who helped us out during the Spring Fund Drive!!!
All the staff behind the scenes putting in extra effort as usual
AND of course all of you who contributed, especially the new members...over 4100 of you!! WOW!
What an awesome show of approval for what we are building here. We hit the goal about 10 minutes ahead of schedule, thank goodness, because I thought Mary was going to have a nervous breakdown!?!?!
It was great to hang with Lucia this afternoon reading so many wonderful things that people say when they call or click. I was especially moved by several that suggested they were deciding to become members because they wanted the station to stay around so that their children and grandchildren can hear it!!

Ta!

Too bad about the double-luge team’s crash at Torino.
The question came up this morning – who ever thought up the notion of two guys piling on a sled to go as fast as they can down an extremely icy hill? The answer: every pair of kids who ever put on snow boots, that’s who. Our favorite winter stunt involved three sledders – two lying face down on parallel Flexible Flyers, and one acrobat to make the jump from speeding sled to speeding sled halfway down the hill. We were only successful about half the time. The rest of the time somebody got ten pounds of slush down the neck of their jacket, but even those failures were spectacular fun. As I recall.

I'm excited about where I am in life. Career-wise anyway. I didn't expect to be sitting in a large market, Twin Cities radio station for many years. According to the folks at Brown Institute (during my college visit when I was 17), I should be in a small town radio station somewhere in New Mexico making less than minimum wage and living in my car. That didn't discourage me from radio. I just decided I wouldn't go to school there. I still haven't written my "Ha! I showed you! letter" to Alix Kendall (Fox 9 Morning anchor), who was the guest speaker the day I visited the school I had heard so much about. They used to play the Brown Institute commercials more than National American University ("one day, one night"...) I can't remember the title of her speech to the prospective students that day. But- it should have been called something like "None of You Will Succeed". After that I was even more determined to be on the radio, I wanted it even more because no one believed that I could succeed... except I always felt like my dad never lost the faith. So I found myself at SCSU, confused about life, goals, the future... until I walked into a basement and found a station called KVSC, where I found musical taste other than my classic rock collection. A whole new world of tunes.

I re-found my determination and landed myself somewhere where I couldn't be happier. I heard about this "new music station" from Minnesota Public Radio. I submitted my resume' and crossed my fingers. And a year later... they've decided to keep me around! I work with music I love. Good music. Real music. How did I get here? I look around the room at meetings sometimes and think, how did I end up working with a staff this good? It's like being in a room with a "supergroup" of the Twin Cities. The Damn Yankees of Twin Cities radio if you will! ha! (Damn Yankees is the first "supergroup" that comes to mind. Where else can you find Tommy Shaw and Ted Nugent singing ballads? Isn't that way Tommy Shaw left Styx, cause he wanted to rock and roll? I guess he just wanted to take us high enough.) OK so my co-workers rock more than Damn Yankees. That's a given.

I was never real sure what I wanted to do if I wasn't involved with radio or music for that matter, in some way. But I was just recently reminded of what I don't want to do if for some reason I can't do radio anymore. Lloyd Dobler said it best in the movie Say Anything:
"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed... or buy anything sold or processed... or process anything sold, bought or processed... or repair anything sold, bought or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."

Thanks for a great year everyone. And many more for that matter. Now what are you waiting for... become a member before Friday!

-Jill

I'm really excited and a little nervous about tomorrow;

11am-1pm I join Gary Eichten on Mid-Day on 91.1 FM as his guest, talking about The Current AND concentrating on love songs.
We're even going to play a bunch, so tune it in!

My regular shift will be anything but!
I have a stack of great dedications to get to and 5 hours of the
Greatest Love Songs of All Time, snuggle up together and join me!

Happy Valentines Day everyone!!

All week long I keep hearing talk about The Olympic Hopefuls and my ears always perk up thinking they're talking about the band.. and then I realise....

My favorite comment so far from a listener pledging a membership gift to The Current:

"It's so good to hear my old friends Mary Lucia and Thorn again. Bill DeVille, you laid-back son of a gun, I love your music sets ...

"... Steve Seel, however, I wasn't so sure about at first, because I found his name to be slightly disturbing."

What is your idea of a romantic gesture?

The first day of the Spring Membership Drive is goin' gangbusters. Thanks so much to everyone who's made a membership gift so far today ... with your help, we'll make this Member Challenge by 6!

And it was our biggest success so far in our "Policy And A Pint" series, a collaboration between The Current and The Citizen's League of the Twin Cities. We had a sold-out house at The Varsity Theater, and simply not enough time to talk about all the facets of our subject -- the financial hurdles facing young adults today.

Thanks to author Tamara Draught, who talked about her book "Strapped: Why Today's 20 and 30-Somethings Can't Get Ahead," as well as MPR's own Chief Economics Guru Chris Farrell, who pitched in with his own take on the phenomenon.

If you missed it, we're going to be posting the audio online within the next few hours, hopefully. Watch this space.

And a great huzzah goes out to our engineers, who got the wires all correctly re-patched and helped us move into our new booth today.

Woo hoo! Thanks to everyone, actually, who helped make this transition happen. Boys, you may now begin the dismantling of Studio 3A. (*sniff*).

Okay, we're not in the new studio quite yet. We halted the countdown at about t-minus ten minutes. We're gonna try it again around 1pm today ... stand by. (Guys! Hold off with that chainsaw! We're not outa the old building just yet!)

I don't want to watch it, yet I do cause I feel as though I'll be missing out on something. Like current events or something... but actually I enjoy awards shows. There's usually "nothing on" anyway. It gives me a chance to watch the celebrities do their thing.

Anyone else watching?

I'm going to keep a pail next to me all night cause I have a feeling I'll have to use it every time Mariah Carey wins.

New releases that is...Belle & Sebastian and Beth Orton.
I might be too big a fan sometimes, and my expectations were very high and I feel a little let down, but what do YOU think?
I am sorry about last nights post, I can't find the archive either.
I better check with the webmaster Mr.Wells...things are a little crazy here as Seely's post might have suggested...love the 'playlet' Frick!! We've been discussing the addition of a radio drama, perhaps you'd like to pitch something?!?!

It's always funny when you encounter someone who lives and exists in NYC and NYC only if you know what I mean.
Elefant was in the studio today and when we gave them the standard "please don't cuss speech" Diego asked me if MN was a "Huge Mormon state"?
It's always interesting to hear what image people have of life east of Philadelphia.

It's the end of an era here in Studio 3A at Minnesota Public Radio.

Unless something goes completely kerblooie on Wednesday (which is not entirely out of the question), today is the last full day of broadcasting from the booth that has been the home to The Current during its first year on the air. It's also been home to The Morning Show for about 10 years, and MPR's regional classical music service for nine (until The Current came along last year and booted it upstairs to Studio 4D, that is ... eyebrows were raised, some harrumphing was heard...). In fact, the plan is that this little booth will become a mere "production" booth, meaning that it will no longer be where live radio is created anymore. So it's kinda a sad day for "The Fishbowl" as some grew to call it.

However, for some of us, tomorrow couldn't come soon enough, since Studio 3A also happens to be the only remaining, functioning room on three entire floors of the old MPR building. It's been a bit creepy to be in here this week, as MPR's news and national classical service have completely bugged out, and the walls are literally coming down. It feels kinda like were some straggly band of survivors sending out a clandestine broadcast from some debris-filled post-apocalyptic bunker. Well, except for the guys in hard-hats walking around, looking at us through the glass as if to say, "Those clowns are still in there? When do I get to use this sledgehammer?"

Anyway, wish us luck on the transition. (And, oh yeah, it never hurts to repeat this: your membership donation was not used to buy MPR "sexy new studios," unlike what some folks would like you to believe. We held a capital campaign to build the new building).

The Current staff had a first birthday bowl-a-thon at Bryant Lake Sunday night during the Super Bowl. We did this to demonstrate our immunity to the kind of group-think that demands that everybody watch the Big Game. Also, nobody thought to look at the calendar until after the thing was set. So, while America and the world watched football, we bowled, and we all did it pretty badly because I won the high-score competition with a mere 153.
But here’s the best part: there was a special, secret prize for the winner that our program director, Steve Nelson, kept hidden in a sack. I had to leave early so I wasn’t there when the winners were announced – a big letdown for everyone, I’m sure. I know Steve was discouraged because when I asked about the prize, he said he lost it somewhere on Lake Street. All those guys with crumpled up bags – one of them has my bowling prize!

As Zappa said, talking about music is like dancing about architecture. I think talking about art is like trying to construct a dancing building. So talking about art that is about music seems to be attempting the impossible! See if you think we managed it on stage at the Fitzgerald theatre last Thursday night, it's archived on our website.

I liked the first song he did.. second one feh.

Flogging Molly was in the live in the studio today. I was so pleased and so excited the entire time! Check out the audio on The Current in studio archive when you get a chance.

They all signed my vinyl copy of "Within a Mile of Home." That rules.

When I was five I had to be in "speech" class. I guess my "lsssp" was to much for the teacher to take. The school didn't even tell my parents they were putting my in speech class. For years I was mad my parents for making me an outcast kindergardener who was made fun of for going to "special classes." Of course it's real easy to have a "lssp" in kindergarden when you have no front teeth! I used to pull and tug on my baby teeth till they'd come out so I could get my quarters. So I lost all my front teeth at once. Anyway, my parents didn't even know I was in speech class for my alleged speech disorder. Funny. When my teeth grew in I was just fine.

Their new full length comes out this Tuesday called "The Life Pursuit" and they have just announced a show at The Orpheum March 12th playing with The New Pornographers.
This set is taken from a compilation which should be in stores next week too. It's the newest in a fine line which you can check out here...latenighttales.co.uk
They ask the artists to choose some of their faves or artists that have influenced them and mix them creatively. I think that B&S did a great job and I could play all of it, but this is what we heard;

Novi Singers - Cos Specjainego
Gal Costa - Lost in the Paradise
Paperclip People - People make the world go Round
Ramsey Lewis - Uhuru
Steve Miller Band - Fly like an Eagle
Donovan - Get thy Bearings
Mum - Green grass of Tunnel
Belle & Sebastian - Cassaco Marron

I am going to be a guest on Weekend America this weekend, 91.1 FM Saturday Noon - 2pm talking about the new B&S cd as well as the new Tortoise. It's already on the website, choose the show 'Weekend America' from our shortcuts program menu on the main MPR page.

Can someone explain the significance of a friday fish fry?

German scientists say they have measured a round icy chunk orbiting our Sun three times more distant than Pluto, and have found it to have a larger diameter than Pluto by about 450 miles. That's a pretty fine calibration to make from nine billion miles away.
I was measuring a spot on the wall yesterday, intending to hang a picture, and the pencil mark I made I was off by 1/8th of an inch, ruining everything.
If astronomers can spot a 450 mile difference in the diameters of planets 3 and 9 billion miles away, why can’t I get that nail into the correct spot on the wall when it’s right in front of my face?

February 3rd, 1959 is the morning Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens were killed in the plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa.

47 years ago. I guess they took off at 1am and weren't in the air more than 5 minutes.

My brother was just in Clear Lake, Iowa and drove by the crash site. The only time I've ever been to Iowa was a church trip was my grandma to visit The Grotto. Us cat-lics enjoy that kind of thing I guess.

Saturday night. Roy Wilkins Auditorium here in St. Paul.
MN Rollergirls bout starts at 7:30pm. Be there or be square. Or hip. Or is it hip to be square? Why am I thinking about Huey Lewis?
What ever happened to The News? If Huey Lewis and the News were playing Saturday night... I'd probably still go to MN Rollergirls.

Maybe Huey Lewis and the News would be a lovely act for Taste of MN. Can't be any worse then Asia. All though... I was down at Taste of MN to see Donovan and when I was walking to the shuttle bus I heard "Heat of the Moment." And it was rad. Not as rad as the cheese curds I ate.

I'm going to stop now. Why? Because I crave fried food. I haven't had a french fry in quite some time. I feel like I'm a recovering addict. When I pass a fast food joint and crave french fries, I think to myself..."God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, Courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference." Kind of like FF instead of AA. French fries are beautiful, but I found the strength to quit them. When I find a balance in my life, I can maybe have the occasional fry. But I'm not ready yet. It takes time. And support. And an understanding that if I fall off the french fry wagon, I'm still OK.

It's scary to read the thoughts in my head, isn't it?

It's becoming virtually impossible to post here and not talk about our physical suuroundings.
I'm not asking you to care but suffice to say that everytime I move (and I've moved a ton) I leave the artwork and stuff on the walls until the last possible second because It's so depressing looking at dirty bare walls.
This place looks like the house in the Grinch who stole X-mas when he took everything even a crumb too small for a mouse.

Any Apollo 13 fans out there? If so, you’ll recognize this situation:
Our new studios aren’t finished, but construction workers are starting to demolish the area around our existing rooms. The heat in the surrounding area appears to have been turned off. Wires are hanging out of the ceiling. Guys with hammers and crowbars walk by regularly, eyeing our little island of light and warmth amid the chaos.
Can’t stay, can’t go. What to do?
We’re going to use the LEM as a lifeboat.
Over the next few days we’ll move our act to a set of old studios one floor above our current location – rooms normally used to produce a variety of national programs – an improvised way station on our journey to the eventual destination - radio paradise.
Morning Show listeners should keep an ear to the radio for more than the normal number of mishaps and miscues as the strange surroundings amplify our usual festival of confusion and woe.
Breathe shallowly, everybody. We only have enough air for a few days!

Am I the only one who hates this term?

Bah-humbug.

I finally got around to listening to the new Barry Thomas Goldberg cd "The Last Guitar" today and ...freaked out! He's written a song about our regular posters on the Forum, dubbed, I think be Mr.Seel, as the Post Tarts.
Meeting them at the Ave on Saturday and now this?!? Bizarre!
I played it tonight and couldn't quite get me head around it?
Sorry if this has been discussed elsewhere, but I just had to note the immortalization in song of our fans...bravo!

I've decided based only on the appeal of their names the 2 bands I'm going to try and see in Austin next month at SXSW.. are "Hurts to Purr" and "You Say Party! We Say Die!"

Of a young indie-band: a listener wrote in today to say that tickets for the upcoming Clap Your Hands Say Yeah show are going on eBay for 45 dollars! Holy cow. She re-named them "Clap Your Hands We're Famous." Seems about right!

REM, Joseph Arthur fans: Michael Stipe's cover of Joseph Arthur's tune "In The Sun" to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Just now in the e-mail box:

"R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe has created the In The Sun Foundation to benefit Gulf Coast residents still suffering the effects of last year's hurricanes. This Sunday, February 5, iTunes will make available an EP including six versions of the Joseph Arthur ballad "In The Sun," featuring Stipe with guest singers and remixers, including Coldplay's Chris Martin, ex-Smashing Pumpkin James Iha, Black Eyed Peas's will.i.am, Arthur himself, and for some reason Justin Timberlake. Profits will go toward The Mercy Corps, whose relief programs currently reach 7 million people in more than 35 countries."

I'm not sure who wrote that last line about Timerberlake, but it's dern funny. The song will also be aired during the TV program Grey's Anatomy following the Superbowl this Sunday.